Brownstein Podcast Series

The 2026 Colorado legislative session kicks off Jan. 14—with legacy-building, budget battles and big policy debates ahead. Tune in as Brownstein’s Sarah Mercer, Jia Meeks, Cooper Reveley and Sloane Whelan share expectations and answer larger questions about what’s at stake heading into 2026.

Welcome to the Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck podcast series. Please listen in as Brownstein’s Greg Vallin and Amy Diaz bring back Jennifer Blum to discuss the Minerals Notification Act.

With the recent off-year election in the rear view, eyes are now turning to the 2026 cycle. And in Colorado, that means sorting citizen-initiated measures that make the ballot next year. Colorado’s ballot measure process is one of the most direct and impactful tools for shaping state policy—and also one of the most complex. Join Brownstein’s David Meschke and Sarah Mercer as they walk through the constitutional and statutory framework and timeline governing statewide citizen initiatives and offer insights into recent trends, legal challenges and strategic considerations for drafting, advocating for or opposing ballot questions. They also cover key differences and considerations for county and municipal ballot measures, which play an increasingly important role in local governance.

It’s been a big week on Capitol Hill for congressional appropriators. To reopen the government, the Senate has passed a legislative package that includes multiple appropriations bills and a continuing resolution to fund all other parts of the government. As the bill now heads to the House, our team discusses the content of the legislation and what the government funding process looks like moving forward.

As the Republican-controlled Congress ramps up investigations into education, emerging technology, democratic fundraising, foreign influence and regulatory enforcement, new risks have arisen for industry members. Our team of oversight policy professionals dive into what this means for agencies, contractors and other stakeholders, and how things could change approaching the 2026 midterms.

Colorado is rolling up its sleeves to try to solve the home attainability challenge and master-planned communities will be at the forefront. In this episode, Brownstein’s Greg Vallin sits down with well-known real estate brokers Mike Kboudi and John Covert, both from Cushman and Wakefield, to dive into the forces shaping residential development across the Front Range.

Permitting has long been a concern of those in the energy extraction and production sectors. Long review periods drive up the costs and delay profits in both the renewable and fossil fuel industries. Today our team discusses the history of both parties’ efforts to fix this process, options that have been proposed by the current Congress and administration, and what to watch leading up to 2026.

There are important practical considerations for development projects with severed mineral interests. Tune in as Brownstein’s Amy Diaz and Greg Vallin talk to attorney Jennifer Blum, founder of Blum Law and Title, to understand the complex legal history and modern-day headaches of “split estates,” and learn how developers can avoid pitfalls that slow down project timelines and ruin budgets.

Recent reports that the Senate Banking Committee has a new draft of digital asset market structure legislation ahead of a potential markup this month is just the latest sign of Washington’s bipartisan momentum to make the United States the “crypto capital of the world,” as President Trump pledged during the campaign. This progress builds on a wave of landmark executive orders and regulatory policy changes that are unleashing decentralized finance. Two members of Brownstein’s financial services team discuss the risks and opportunities facing industry leaders amidst this fast-evolving crypto policy landscape. Matt Grinney served as a senior advisor in the first Trump administration, and Rob Robillard is a capital markets strategist who worked for one of Congress's most outspoken crypto skeptics, Rep. Brad Sherman of California.

For navigating the Colorado Common Interest Ownership Act and avoiding costly missteps, early legal guidance can make all the difference. In this episode, Brownstein’s Corey Zurbuch and Greg Vallin break down what developers need to know about HOA formation, common pitfalls and smarter alternatives that could save time—and headaches—down the road.

One of the biggest obstacles for Colorado’s master-planned community developers is municipal approvals. The timing, uncertainty and communication issues that arise during the entitlement process can plague a project before it’s ever built. Listen in as Brownstein’s Carolynne White and Greg Vallin discuss the entitlement process and the role of home-rule, how developers can navigate the most common hurdles and risks involved with realistic project timelines and financial sustainability.

In his first year back in office, President Trump committed over $1 trillion to defense spending. With global tensions rising—from Europe to the Middle East to the Indo-Pacific—the U.S. is relying on its defense industry to stay ahead. Brownstein’s Defense Team breaks down the delayed NDAA, the recently concluded reconciliation fight and the kickoff of FY2026 appropriations talks.

Landowners looking to sell have a long list of questions to answer before a deal is final. What is the main motivation to sell? What is the risk tolerance? What market factors might impact the final sale? Tune in as Brownstein’s Greg Vallin, a member of the firm’s Master Planned Communities team, sits down with Pete Thompson of the Thompson Group to discuss answers to these questions and other considerations for landowners before selling.

Before heading into the Memorial Day recess, House Republicans met their self-imposed deadline by narrowly passing the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Now, the reconciliation package moves to the Senate, where it faces criticism from both fiscal conservatives and moderates. Our tax team breaks down the 10 most likely changes that could emerge as the Senate takes up the bill—changes that would only need GOP votes to pass.

When the dust settles, the results of the 2025 Colorado Legislative session will impact the real estate industry. Listen in as Brownstein’s Andi Stader, Sarah Mercer, Abby Kirkbride and Claire Havelda discuss what passed and what the possible short- and long-term impacts will be.

House Republicans are crafting a reconciliation bill to advance President Trump’s legislative agenda, including tax cuts. The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), a key achievement of President Biden, has faced criticism, particularly regarding its green energy tax credits. In this episode of our continuing tax podcast series, our team discusses the future of clean energy tax provisions in congressional negotiations.

More than 100 days into the Trump administration, the spotlight has primarily focused on executive actions. Meanwhile, Congress continues to investigate matters tied to the president’s policy agenda, and issues prioritized by House and Senate committee chairs. Our team revisits the oversight predictions they made after the 2024 elections and examines the risks industries face after the beginning of the 119th Congress.

Colorado counties reassess property taxes for real and personal property every two years. With the notices of valuation for the 2025-2026 cycle being released on May 1, Brownstein Shareholders David Meschke and Justin Cohen explain why commercial property owners need to start preparing to review their assessment notices and decide whether it makes business sense to appeal those determinations.

President Trump has made returning manufacturing jobs to America a cornerstone of both his terms. Republicans in Congress are hoping to lend a helping hand during the drafting of their reconciliation bill by including provisions that offer tax incentives to companies that commit to domestic production. In this episode of our tax podcast, we delve into the potential structure of these credits and explore whether lawmakers might draw inspiration from past tax legislation, including the Biden-era Inflation Reduction Act.

With the reconciliation framework in place, congressional Republicans face the challenge of crafting a final bill. As they aim to solidify tax provisions from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, deliver on promises President Trump made to working-class voters and address broader tax concerns, lawmakers are searching for methods to offset the costs of their ambitious policy agenda. Today, Brownstein’s tax team explore proposals gaining traction in Washington, including increasing taxes on individuals earning over $1 million. They'll examine the feasibility of this departure from conservative orthodoxy and discuss alternative strategies Congress might consider.